Breaking into a male bastion

Young women in Jammu and Kashmir venture into the sports arena

SRINAGAR: In a time of fatwas and burqas, some women have dared to break taboos and make Kashmir proud. Breaking stereotypes, they have ventured to make a career in sports, which was till now considered a no-entry zone for the fairer sex.

Shazia Abbas, a 22-year-old from Dalgate, is the perfect icon of this new generation. She has been passionately pursuing sports for the past six years and has won six gold medals in Thang Tha (a form of martial art) at national events. She has represented Jammu and Kashmir in numerous championships, bringing the state many laurels.

"I am a first-generation sportsperson in my family, but they has always stood by me and I never felt any kind of discrimination. Neither of my parents objected to my joining this sport," says Shazia.

For Shazia, Thang Tha is not merely a sport. She says the martial art form has given her a sense of security in a turbulent Kashmir. "Thang Tha is a defensive art. I am always prepared to defend myself in case I feel a threat on the streets," she says.

Other women have also made their name in the martial arts. Shagufta, a 23-year-old practitioner of the Sqi martial art form, has won four gold medals at different championships. She holds a black belt in the art and has been teaching students at a private school in Srinagar. "Some people in my locality tried to object to my joining sports. Later they realised that this is simply an art form and they allowed me to go ahead," Shagufta said.

Shazia and Shagufta represent the new face of Kashmiri women, young and confident and willing to break known boundaries. This new breed of women has made a name in a whole range of sports right from martial arts to badminton, cricket and even kayaking.

Even in cricket, a predominantly male bastion across the country, Kashmiri women have taken part and excelled. Take for example Massarat Ahad and Parveena, two girls who have not only played the sport, but also been instrumental in the setting up of the first women's cricket club in Kashmir. The Star club has 16 active members.

"I have been playing since childhood and I have participated in two national championship in cricket and five tennis ball cricket championships. I was adjudged women of the series in 2002", boasts Massarat, who is currently preparing for the civil services examination.

But while women are doing well in a whole range of sports, the martial arts seem to be a particular favourite. "About 5000 girls are registered with us in different martial art streams. We are having trouble selecting only a few for the national championship. There is a great response from the girls in joining the sports", says Nazir Ahmad, a Thang Tha coach at the J&K youth Services and sports department.

While some women did not face much opposition, others had to fight tooth and nail for the right to pursue their passion for sports. Wahida Bano, a kayaking champion, faced stiff resistance from acquaintances, but fortunately had her family on her side.

"Some people in my locality were objecting my participating in water sports events. They had raised hue and cry in the area. My aunt snubbed them saying that men and women are alike and they should stop meddling. From that day I got the encouragement," she says.

Bano, 14, is part of the 25-member women water sports squad receiving training at the J&K youth services and department. She recently bagged a silver medal at a national championship in Bhopal. "I love this sport and see my future in it," she says.

The increasing enthusiasm for sports among Kashmiri women even has the government surprised. "It is a positive sign", says Babu Singh, J&K minister for youth services and sports. "We will try to give all kind of support and encouragement to those girls who intend to make their mark in sports. We are also preparing a roadmap so that all bottlenecks are removed and everyone gets a fair chance."

Sociologists believe that increasing exposure to the outside world has much to do with the girls expressing their love for sports and taking part in them seriously.

"At the onset of militancy many parents sent their wards outside the state for studies. Some traders also shifted base because of the turmoil. These people were exposed to many new things that helped change their mindset. As a result, now we see many women coming out of their shells and joining fields that were no-entry zones for them earlier," says Dr Sheikh Khursheed-ul-Islam, a well-known sociologist who works as assistant professor at the Institute of Management and Public Administration.

Media and sports icons, he adds, have played their part in inspiring Kashmiri women.

"Media is a catalyst for change and has helped to enlighten the women folk. The sports icons have also contributed to Kashmiri women willingness to join sports championships and make their presence felt," he says.